Group to look into new zoning district

PEPPERELL -- The Planning Board is forming a study group to explore the possibility of establishing a new zoning district in town.

"The intention is to have the committee look at the town's existing zoning districts and their uses and to work toward possibly establishing a new zoning district for businesses that are sensitive to surrounding residential areas," Planning Administrator Susan Snyder said.

Snyder said the intention of the study group is to get an idea of where townspeople want development in Pepperell to go.

"Originally, (the zoning district) was intended to allow for basic services and shopping needs, so not allowing full commercial use, but allowing for things that might be handy to people in the neighborhoods, such as banking, professional services and private services," she said.

According to Snyder, an initiative for a similar district failed at last year's Town Meeting.

"There were some comments that it was not that different than existing commercial districts," she said, "and some thought that the vision for what the neighborhood business district was intended to be wasn't adequately put out there."

The Planning Board will be appointing members to the committee at its Dec. 2 meeting. They are hoping to appoint five members, and have so far heard from several interested applicants, Snyder said.

Planning Board member Joe Helfter will work with the committee as a liaison.

The work of the study group is expected to last about six months.

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Anyone interested in being considered for membership on the committee, or who has questions, is asked to contact Snyder at the Planning Board Office in Town Hall.

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